Student Profiles
Class of 2026-2027
Munan Cao
Munan Cao received her LL.B. from Fudan University and her J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She is an active member of the New York Bar. She has over eight years of experience practicing corporate law and M&A in China. Before relocating to California, she practiced at prestigious law firms in Shanghai, where she advised on cross-border M&A transactions, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. In her spare time, Munan enjoys reading with her two children, hiking, studying developmental psychology, pen-and-ink sketching, and yoga. She also has a passion for languages. She studied Spanish and French in college and is currently working on brushing them back up.
Sue Chang
Sue Chang received her J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law in 2019 and her B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is an active member of the State Bar of California. Her professional experience includes business formation, tax compliance, and IRS matters for small businesses, as well as immigration advocacy through nonprofit organizations. She has lived and worked in Mexico and South Korea and is fluent in Spanish.
Paolina Engibegian
Paolina Engibegian earned her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2026 with a concentration in Business Law, and her M.A. in English Literature from California State University, Northridge in 2023, with distinction. During law school, she first served as a Comment Writer for The University of the Pacific Law Review, publishing a legal comment advocating for the federal regulation of cryptocurrency and later served as the Law Review’s Chief Managing Editor. She also worked as a student assistant to two successive Deans at McGeorge and completed a legal externship with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission during her final year of law school, gaining valuable experience in legal research and litigation. Her interest in corporate law and business transactions led her to pursue an LL.M. in Tax Law at UC Irvine as she prepares for a career in transactional practice. In her free time, Paolina enjoys reading, playing the piano, spending time with her dogs, and convincing herself she doesn’t need another trip to a bookstore.
Chongxu (Matthew) Gao
Chongxu (Matthew) Gao earned his LL.M. from Vanderbilt University Law School and his LL.B. from East China University of Political Science and Law. He is a California-licensed attorney with over seven years of prior experience practicing corporate and securities law in China. He previously practiced at law firms and multinational companies in China, where he advised on cross-border M&A transactions, venture capital financing, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. Since relocating to California, Matthew has been practicing at a California law firm, representing employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation matters. Drawing on his corporate background and litigation experience, he is expanding his practice into tax and estate planning. Outside of work, he enjoys playing soccer, traveling with his family, and cooking at home.
Ewan (Shihao) Liang
Ewan (Shihao) Liang earned his J.D. at UC Davis School of Law. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with Distinction, from the University of Michigan. At King Hall, he serves as Editor in Chief of the Business Law Journal, Managing Editor of the Journal of International Law & Policy, Diversity Editor of The Immigration & Nationality Law Review, and Treasurer of the IP Law Association. He spent summers as a law clerk with the UC Davis Labor Law Program at Beeson Tayer & Bodine and at Cook Brown, LLP, focusing on labor and employment litigation and arbitration. He became interested in tax law through his clinical work on 501(c)(5) union tax exemption issues and his ongoing volunteer work helping with local Tibetan Buddhist organization obtain tax-exempt status and navigate tax and employment compliance. Before law school, he interned at Dentons and Yingke Law Firm in China, working on international contract disputes and intellectual property matters. He is a native Mandarin speaker, conversational in Cantonese, and in Japanese.
Catherine Lichtman
Catherine Lichtman received her J.D. from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2026. She earned her bachelor's degree from UC Irvine in 2023, where she double majored in Business Economics and International Studies. Catherine developed an interest in tax law after taking an International Taxation course during law school. She further cultivated that interest through additional tax coursework and her participation in Pepperdine's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. In her free time, Catherine enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Braden Lobb
Braden Lobb earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the UC Irvine School of Law in 2026. He earned his B.S. in Economics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2023. While in law school, Braden was a judicial extern at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, a clinical student at the UCI Immigrant Rights Clinic, and a summer associate at Rutan & Tucker, LLP. Braden will continue his employment with Rutan after graduation as he pursues a career helping entrepreneurs and businesses navigate tax planning for corporate and real estate transactions. Before law school, Braden was a banker at First Republic Bank in San Francisco and a legal assistant at Lobb & Plewe, LLP, located in Corona. His interests include teaching, philosophy, skiing, scuba diving, soccer, tennis, golf, rugby, and ocean kayaking.
Joana Machado
Joana Machado is a Brazilian tax attorney with more than 22 years of experience in tax law. She earned her law degree from the Federal University of Bahia and her accounting degree from the University of Salvador, both in Brazil, and holds a specialization in Tax Law from the Brazilian Institute of Tax Studies (IBET). Throughout her career, Joana has advised clients in both private practice and in-house roles, with extensive experience in tax litigation and consulting leading companies in the petrochemical and pulp and paper industries. After immigrating to the United States, Joana is expanding her expertise in U.S. tax law to build on her international experience and pursue an in-house tax counsel role with an American company. Outside of her professional life, Joana enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, exploring parks and beaches throughout Orange and San Diego Counties, getting together with friends, watching movies, and reading novels.
Judy Shih
Judy Shih is a licensed California lawyer who received her J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), with a concentration in tax law. After law school, she was a mergers and acquisitions associate at Ernst & Young. Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UC Irvine. In her free time, Judy enjoys running, trying new things, and spending time with her family and friends.
Parsa Tabatabaei
Parsa Tabatabaei holds a J.D. from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (2026) and a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to pursuing his LL.M., Parsa gained litigation experience in business disputes and medical malpractice matters. Parsa's interest in tax law began in law school, sparked by courses in Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporations, and Federal Income Tax. He is also experienced in and passionate about patent law and is currently preparing for the Patent Bar Exam. Within tax, he is particularly drawn to international taxation and the cross-border issues that come with an increasingly global economy. Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Parsa enjoys reading, playing chess, and spending time at the beach.